Yin and Yang from Wikipedia.
The symbol so succinct, the black and white
The contrast so clear is like day and night
The Chinese call it the yin and the yan
A circle, or sphere, ends where it began
It's like a school year, back home, then back here
Or a holiday, places far away
Let's try something new, an expensive game,
Spice makes it taste nice, it looks just the same
Like breakfast and lunch, I have a hunch
Angela Lansbury with large pencil and notebook. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Some people give you a hard time
For using well-known, well used rhymes
I can't do new things all the time
Do they want words, cliches - or mime?
Others complain that you're too proud
You laugh too loud or shout too loud
Yes, I am proud and I'm unbowed
I refuse to be down and cowed
Let's celebrate phrases we know
First used by Shakespeare long ago
I'll give you yours, forgive me mine
Win guessing games with well-known rhymes.
-ends-
I think that was a record for the time of writing a poem. Twenty minutes for the poem. I thought of a subject and a title. Twenty minutes. Three verses. 12 lines. 12 rhymes. checked each line had eight syllables. Added the labels. Checked the number of the poem. Wrote this comment.
Another ten minutes for -
Added the appeal. Turned on Italics.
Found a photo - copied from another poem.
Added a reference to my books of poetry
such as Poetry Pets & Pests
and my latest book, Embarrassing Moments, which is on Amazon, at a bargain price of well under ten pounds
Please follow me and share links to your favourite poems.
To keep energy in my head
I dressed myself in vibrant red.
Enter contest and speak on Zoom
Like open mike, must read the room
Turn each page, still earn a wage
At my age, still on the stage
Looking for my inspiration
From the landscape or the nation
Seeking twisting in the plot
Finding fun where there's a knot
Interviewed in the interval
How do deal with glass half full?
Some you win and some you lose
Dressed in colours like a cruise
In Zoom waiting rooms, blind as a bat
Beaten by a poet reciting rap
Write my life, tell my story
Interviewed, give myself glory
Avoid all fiction and faction
End with a clear call to action
Do what all good speakers do
End with smiles and nods to you
Another stop in life's station
Certificate of participation
Even though I did not win
Inspired to rewrite, must begin
But I won a little win
Presented with a Pathway pin
Lots to learn from speech winner
Feel much better after dinner.
Shrugging at the passing time
Eating chocolate, sipping wine
Lastly, before I go to bed
Remember what Napoleon said
He spoke of delights of Champagne
A thought which I'll repeat again
'In victoty you deserve it,' I concede it
'But in defeat, you need it..'
This fond Gran does not back pedal
When three -year-olds all get a medal
My spouse says, 'They must choose
You can't all always win! Be prepared to lose!'
For little children, women and men
Lose, then prepare to run again
Winning is not out of reach
I'm already writing .my next speech
Don't be sadder, just be gladder
One step up the success ladder.
-ends-
I was in the Division L International Evaluation Contest, Saturday March 9th 2024, one of 8 contestants, not placed in the top three. I had previously won at club level, came third at area level, but was a last minute entrant at the third level, Division level, when the person ahead of me had to drop out.
Photo
Angela Lansbury wearing red, smiling after losing the speech evaluation contest. Photo by Trevor Sharot. Copyright.
Please share links to your favourite posts.
At nine in the morning I ran off to swim
In the hope that it would make me slim
To compensate for last night's chocolate sin
My virtuous smile means I've won a win-win
While you sit, solid at your computer
Hoping it won't damage your future
Just tap your feet, so when we meet
Mutual congratulations can begin.
We both will say, 'You do look slim!'
A win for two is a win-win.
-ends-
Copyright Angela Lansbury 2023 Sunday April 23rd
